Quality Control in the IVF laboratory

5 hours interactive virtual course

• 1 Pre-course self-study module with a self-assessment questionnaire to be completed before the course
• 1 live module of 90 minutes
• 1 module of 75 minutes including lecturing and question taking
• 1 Module of 60 minutes including troubleshooting, questioning, and answering

Course Description

This course will provide a detailed overview of the different management tools and know-how for setting up a quality control and quality assurance system in an IVF laboratory. Procedures for validation and performance management of equipment and culture systems will be explained, including testing of air quality, pH, and temperature. Topics addressed include managing total quality in an IVF laboratory, traceability, stock management, process mapping, developing a standard operating procedure (SOP), organizing training of staff, as well as use of KPIs and audits in quality management.

Course Objectives

• To understand how to monitor, calibrate, and validate equipment and the facility, including pH, temperature, and osmolality optimization of the culture system
• learn about handling and storage of consumables, including the need for control of inventory
• to understand how to implement a system for risk management and traceability, including electronic witnessing
• learn about quality control (external QC and internal QC), quality management, quality assurance, and KPIs.
• understand the need for training and monitoring of the performance of staff
• learn about audits
• provide a forum to discuss the importance of quality control and management

Target Audience

Quality Managers, IVF Unit Managers, IVF Lab Managers, Chief Embryologists, Clinical Embryologists, Lab Technicians, Clinical Directors, and Auditors who have a good understanding of the working of an ART laboratory and regulations that apply to ART laboratories in their country.

Educational needs and expected outcomes

The course aims to provide you with:

• monitoring, validation, and calibration of equipment and the facility
• stock management of consumables
• the implementation of risk management
• traceability and electronic witnessing
• audits
• internal and external Quality Control
• quality assurance, and KPIs
• training and monitoring of staff
• quality management

Educational methods

Lectures, discussions, exercises, quizzes

Minimal expertise required for participation in the Course

Participants must have experience working in an Andrology and/or IVF Laboratory.

Participants must have a good understanding of the workings of an ART laboratory and the regulations and guidelines that apply to ART in their country.

Minimal technology requirements for participation

The participant must have adequate WiFi, camera, and audio to engage during the course. Courses will be run via the Zoom platform.

Certificate of attendance

Participants obtain a certificate of attendance after attending all modules and completing the Course evaluation at the end of the Course.

What’s included

• Attendance to the modules, lectures, exercises, and Q&A sessions
• Syllabus of the Course.
• Certificate of attendance after attendance of all modules and after completion of the evaluation of the Course